1647
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
Dominant colour
The Sacrament of Marriage is a 1647 oil by Nicolas Poussin, a Dutch Golden Age work, held at National Galleries Scotland.
The painting depicts a group of people gathered in a room, with a woman and man at the center. The woman is dressed in a blue robe, and the man is wearing a white robe. They are surrounded by other figures, some of whom are looking at them. The scene appears to be a formal ceremony, possibly a wedding or a religious ritual. The figures are arranged in a formal composition, with the central couple at the focal point. The background of the painting is dark, which helps to emphasize the figures in the foreground. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting creates a sense of depth and drama, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figures. This technique was often used by artists of the time to create a sense of volume and space in their paintings.
Nicolas Poussin (UK: , US: , French: ; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
